Many of us Yemenis are sick and tired of the media's constant portrayal of Yemenis as «terrorists» in a land that welcomes alqaeda. We need to speak out and show the worldthat we are not what the media says we are. We are a nation and a people with humanitarian traditions and moral ideals. For this reason, and in order to clarify the truth, some of us decided to make a very short clip entitled “I am Yemeni. I am not a Terrorist” that will be similar to this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DImb7jvSbaw).

We have a short script that we would like people to follow for a better video production. We will feature Yemenis from various backgrounds, cities, and professions. The clip will be in Arabic with English subtitles. We hope that whoever reads this message will contribute in whatever way they can, so we can produce a good video that will not exceed 5 minutes. We are looking for Yemenis in the following professions: doctor, government official, sheikh, artist, journalist, NGO worker, singer, athlete, lawyer, female police officer, Imam, engineer, Rabbi, and professor, teacher etc.

If you are interested in being featured in this clip or in helping in any way please contact me at

Many of us Yemenis are sick and tired of the media's constant portrayal of Yemenis as «terrorists» in a land that welcomes alqaeda. We need to speak out and show the world that we are not what the media says we are. We are a nation and a people with humanitarian traditions and moral ideals. For this reason, and in order to clarify the truth, some of us decided to make a very short clip entitled “I am Yemeni. I am not a Terrorist” that will be similar to this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DImb7jvSbaw).

We have a short script that we would like people to follow for a better video production. We will feature Yemenis from various backgrounds, cities, and professions. The clip will be in Arabic with English subtitles. We hope that whoever reads this message will contribute in whatever way they can, so we can produce a good video that will not exceed 5 minutes. We are looking for Yemenis in the following professions: doctor, government official, sheikh, artist, journalist, NGO worker, singer, athlete, lawyer, female police officer, Imam, engineer, Rabbi, and professor, teacher etc.

If you are interested in being featured in this clip or in helping in any way please write me a comment here.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Today, like many days I went on facebook expecting to get the usual updates from friends and family, view some new photos, and watch funny videos or news clips. I also wanted to post a message to my friend Jehan Shaheen's wall to get the usual girly update on her love life, and to write her a message telling her that she can't have fun at the beach without me, because after all, the best beach trip was the one we took together! Well, it turns out she didn't have fun at all because she never got to the beach.

when I got to her wall, I was so confused. I saw messages saying "البقية في حياتك يا جيهان"..... What?? what does that mean? No way, this can't happen!! I was to see her again the next time I went to Cairo. The more messages I read, the more it was confirmed. Jehan has passed away!!! On the road to Nwaiba'a, they got in a fatal car accident. I don't know the details. I never told Jehan how proud I was to know such a strong amazing Egyptian activist like herself. I never told her many things. I hope that I can still tell her, after all, “Death ends a life, not a relationship.”

I know that I never told you all how much you mean to me. You have my life and each one of you stamped it in your own special way. You mean so much to me, and I am so happy to have you in my life. Please know that no matter how far we are, you are part of my life, and I love you very much.

Jehan's last facebook status updates was

يطير الحمام، يحط الحمام،اعيدي لي الأرض لأستريح

the pigeon flies; the pigeon lands, return me to the land so I can rest.

God has returned her to the land where she will rest in peace, inshallah. Please pray for my friend Jehan.